Re: UNH Wildcats 2017 Off-season: The Clash Question

So I guess that means that back in the days of the "Big Four", York, Parker, Walsh, Whitehead and DU were the "Rat Pack" of coaches?

In reality, Dick Umile is only nine months older than Bruce Springsteen, who still plays four hour shows and sells out stadiums around the world. Of course its also true that The Boss hasn't put out an album of new music in over five years, and its been longer than that since he released a decent one. His latest foray around the world was in support of a record that was three and a half decades old, a tour which eventually turned into a greatest hits show. In fact, there are some who consider The Rising Springsteen's last good release. It is worth noting that release and tour took place during the last season that UNH hockey made a trip to the Frozen Four.

Going back even further there is this little ditty:

My soul went walkin' but I stayed here
Feel like I been workin' for a thousand years
Chippin' away at this chain of my own lies
Climbin' a wall a hundred miles high
Well I woke up this morning on the other side
Yeah yeah this is the long goodbye
Hey yeah this is the long goodbye

Same old faces it's the same old town
What once was laughs is draggin' me now
Waitin' on rain hangin' on for love
Words of forgiveness from some God above
Ain't no words of mercy comin' from on high
Oh no just a long goodbye
Yeah yeah just one long goodbye

Well I went to leave twenty years ago
Since then I guess I been packin' kinda slow
Sure did like that admirin' touch
Guess I liked it a little too much

The moon is high and here I am
Sittin' here with this hammer in hand
One more drink oughta ease the pain
Starin' at that last link in the chain
Well let's raise our glass and let the hammer fly
Hey yeah this is the long goodbye
Hey yeah this is the long goodbye
Kiss me baby and we're gonna fly
Hey yeah this is the long goodbye
Yeah yeah this is the long goodbye
Hey yeah this is the long goodbye
Kiss me baby 'cause we're gonna ride
Yeah yeah this is the long goodbye

Re: UNH Wildcats 2017 Off-season: The Clash Question

To be clear to those who don't buy the "Road to 600" or the "Next Round Number" (NRN):

This may come as a shock ... but neither did/do I. It's an incredibly shallow, ridiculous reason to stick around when the program that's been your pride and joy has been sliding into nothingness for the last several years. Selfishness personified. Or as 'Watcher has so succinctly summed this up for months now ... Apres moi, le deluge.

But two off-seasons ago, with the program already slipping away into irrelevancy, this *unusual* 3 year plan emerged. Coach would have three (3) seasons to finish things up, and to transition the program to a hand-picked successor. The last 2 seasons' worth of NC schedules have been more flimsy than a wet tissue. Coincidence? Or did BS35+2 plot this global strategy to sell the guy holding what has since 2000 appeared to be the 'lifetime contract" to accept a shortened 3 year deal that would give him a few more shots at hardware, and all the while also get him to the NRN on his way out the door?

I don't think anyone expected the program to tank as badly as it did last season, and the steady loss of recruits who either left early, or just never came at all, turned these seasons from "return to glory" seasons to "circling the drain" seasons instead. This season, they found a way to get 15 wins, but don't forget - a little over a week ago, it was basically still a push with the previous season's win total.

So if Coach is allowed/decides to come back next year for one final season ... please, tell me why then?

Once upon a time, Jax , Florida but now somewhere in the Lakes Region of NH

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Originally Posted by Chuck Murray

To be clear to those who don't buy the "Road to 600" or the "Next Round Number" (NRN):

This may come as a shock ... but neither did/do I. It's an incredibly shallow, ridiculous reason to stick around when the program that's been your pride and joy has been sliding into nothingness for the last several years. Selfishness personified. Or as 'Watcher has so succinctly summed this up for months now ... Apres moi, le deluge.

But two off-seasons ago, with the program already slipping away into irrelevancy, this *unusual* 3 year plan emerged. Coach would have three (3) seasons to finish things up, and to transition the program to a hand-picked successor. The last 2 seasons' worth of NC schedules have been more flimsy than a wet tissue. Coincidence? Or did BS35+2 plot this global strategy to sell the guy holding what has since 2000 appeared to be the 'lifetime contract" to accept a shortened 3 year deal that would give him a few more shots at hardware, and all the while also get him to the NRN on his way out the door?

I don't think anyone expected the program to tank as badly as it did last season, and the steady loss of recruits who either left early, or just never came at all, turned these seasons from "return to glory" seasons to "circling the drain" seasons instead. This season, they found a way to get 15 wins, but don't forget - a little over a week ago, it was basically still a push with the previous season's win total.

So if Coach is allowed/decides to come back next year for one final season ... please, tell me why then?

Chuck I will go out on a limb and pose this q to you...sure it's entirely possible maybe even likely that DU was given the 3 year gig to tidy up things, get to 600, win a NC etc but now you use the word "allowed" to stay? I guess what I have a hard time believing is he would actually be pushed to leave by MS (BS whatever the number is )..I know wildcatdc has alluded to this in his preseason posts so this could be possible I guess...but seems to me he (DU) has held all the cards to this point?

Will Marty actually say "welp it's been nice but it's time" and can UNH pay him for leaving early? Maybe some of that money from the librarian is still in escrow...In all seriousness unless DU decides that now is the time am curious (almost incredulous) that MS will show him the door.

I imagine MS is/has/ will be receiving a ton of opinions about his hockey coach staying on as we speak, but if Coach decided he's staying well I suspect he will. And assuming that he does indeed step down doubt we will ever know if he decided it on his own or if MS have him the nudge. Unless of course there's a wiki leak or something to that effect!!

Just some mindless ramblings on a snowy day. Supposed to head to Boston for a convention tomorrow?!?

Once upon a time, Jax , Florida but now somewhere in the Lakes Region of NH

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Re: UNH Wildcats 2017 Off-season: The Clash Question

Originally Posted by chickod

But if you had a "Heart of Gold" you would be more sympathetic...

Sorry...this has taken on a life of its own and I couldn't resist...

Oh I do indeed have a heart...of gold not so sure. Believe me...I have empathy for the whole saga. I've met coach on several occasions and have nothing but respect regarding his record/accomplishments for what he's done for UNH hockey. But sometimes it's like this:

Re: UNH Wildcats 2017 Off-season: The Clash Question

Originally Posted by HockeyRef

... why UNH didn't play the big teams like Minny, Michigan, etc like they had been when I first started following them, their response? "When you're not that good...it's hard for those teams to risk Pairwise rankings to play you".

No doubt that is part of it. I can't remember details, but recall some kind of mix up, perhaps logistical, that left us scrambling for opponents this year. Also, two OoC games with UMO is less expensive than flying to Ann Arbor or MN for a weekend.

Once upon a time, Jax , Florida but now somewhere in the Lakes Region of NH

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Re: UNH Wildcats 2017 Off-season: The Clash Question

Originally Posted by Darius

No doubt that is part of it. I can't remember details, but recall some kind of mix up, perhaps logistical, that left us scrambling for opponents this year. Also, two OoC games with UMO is less expensive than flying to Ann Arbor or MN for a weekend.

Re: UNH Wildcats 2017 Off-season: The Clash Question

Originally Posted by HockeyRef

Oh I do indeed have a heart...

I was just kidding...

We went through a similar situation at BU with Parker. The battle lines were clearly drawn. I'm going to go out on a limb here, but my guess is that younger fans would be less empathetic...those of us who are, well, not younger anymore, can project the situation to our own lives.

Someone made a good point a while back, though. It's very hard to be objective regarding oneself. My gut tells me he's not "hanging on to get to the NRN." I truly believe that if he felt as though he could no longer do the job, he'd leave. But that's a HARD thing to admit. And trust me, you "young ones" are just going to have to take my word for it. As my parents would always tell me, "You'll understand when you get older." I used to hate that, but now I completely understand.

Once upon a time, Jax , Florida but now somewhere in the Lakes Region of NH

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Re: UNH Wildcats 2017 Off-season: The Clash Question

Originally Posted by chickod

I was just kidding...

We went through a similar situation at BU with Parker. The battle lines were clearly drawn. I'm going to go out on a limb here, but my guess is that younger fans would be less empathetic...those of us who are, well, not younger anymore, can project the situation to our own lives.

Someone made a good point a while back, though. It's very hard to be objective regarding oneself. My gut tells me he's not "hanging on to get to the NRN." I truly believe that if he felt as though he could no longer do the job, he'd leave. But that's a HARD thing to admit. And trust me, you "young ones" are just going to have to take my word for it. As my parents would always tell me, "You'll understand when you get older." I used to hate that, but now I completely understand.

Oh was aware of the "play on words" with the Heart of Gold as I had been leaning on Neil quite heavily! All good advice I assume there are many of us on this board who are close to, or nearing the retirement phase of life and it's not always obvious when the best time to leave. That being said a bunch of umpire friends and I made a pact that when it was time to say "enough" or "scale back" we could answer each other honestly.

Oh, and 'Watcher that song was being considered but chose a few other Neil tunes...it fits.

Re: UNH Wildcats 2017 Off-season: The Clash Question

Originally Posted by chickod

I was just kidding...

We went through a similar situation at BU with Parker. The battle lines were clearly drawn. I'm going to go out on a limb here, but my guess is that younger fans would be less empathetic...those of us who are, well, not younger anymore, can project the situation to our own lives.

Someone made a good point a while back, though. It's very hard to be objective regarding oneself. My gut tells me he's not "hanging on to get to the NRN." I truly believe that if he felt as though he could no longer do the job, he'd leave. But that's a HARD thing to admit. And trust me, you "young ones" are just going to have to take my word for it. As my parents would always tell me, "You'll understand when you get older." I used to hate that, but now I completely understand.

Someone once said to me, "you want to know when it is time to retire?" "When you are no longer relevant!" Some of you may think you get it, a few of you do get it. It is different for everyone and perhaps more difficult for some. But if you are open and honest, you really will get it. Is Du at that point, just don't know. Greg eluded to it differently but on point earlier.

Don't assume he hasn't. I'd like to think that the rumblings months ago were true.

You know what they say about assume I assume

I would hope Scarano would be on top of these things. We are talking about real bucks here afterall. You know what's interesting here though, to me anyway, is that DU had a hand in bringing in Scarano or am I wrong about that? Scarano might be the one to stab Umile in the back. It's a Greek tragedy in the making!

I don't get this logic at all. Because you were good at your job at one time you can be bad at it now? I'm hoping none of us ever come across any airline pilots or surgeons who follow that way of thinking.

This was a job. He wasn't volunteering with the ORYHA squirts down at Jackson's Landing. A well-compensated and highly visible job at that. He, first and foremost, should have seen that as a stewardship and recognized when he was no longer up to it. But he didn't. I don't know what got in the way - ego, lack of judgement, greed, etc. - but something kept him in the position beyond the time he could do it justice. You act like pointing that out is an insult to him. It's not, this isn't a referendum on his coaching career, or even him as a person, it's a hard but fair look at the current, and recent, state of the program. Which is fairly horrid.

Not sure how old you are but my guess is that you are not collecting social security. I am, and one of the reasons I retired and sold my business in the process is because I knew I had lost my fastball. There was a time that I thought I'd work until I was 70 or so. However when I got to be 63 or 64 I could start to sense that my business world (insurance) was starting to pass me by. So I started the process. It took over two years but I can tell you I left with no regrets.

Now Umile is not an insurance agent, but he has been a highly respected individual in his profession. Sad to say that, no matter the profession, there a lot of people who just don't get that they are not up to speed anymore. I have a couple of good friends my age in the business who just can't give it up, even if one is 72 and the other 68. Now Umile doesn't call the shots like my friends and I did. But like us he's going to,have to self-discover. Not everybody is wired that way, even when the obvious is staring them in the face.

I would hope Scarano would be on top of these things. We are talking about real bucks here afterall. You know what's interesting here though, to me anyway, is that DU had a hand in bringing in Scarano or am I wrong about that? Scarano might be the one to stab Umile in the back. It's a Greek tragedy in the making!

You're wrong. The powers that be probably run it by him, especially after the dysfunctional Gib Chapman era. But hand picking Scarano, or having veto power? None.

Re: UNH Wildcats 2017 Off-season: The Clash Question

Most things in life come down to $$$$ don't they? Scarano needs to grow a pair and get creative here. Maybe approach DU to stay on as a consultant. Make it a transition year with Souza at the helm.

I posted before, I think on last weekend's game thread, that the U paying someone not to coach (or not to do anything) is bad PR as they head to Concord fighting for every penny. Consultant would be better than not being there, but it is just a title. He can, and probably is, consulting with Souza and Stewart every day as HC.

We finished the season, the last 2 weeks not the last day, positively. I'm not all that concerned about who the HC is next year, assume it will be Coach Umile and would love to see him finish on a relative high note.